Galvanoplastic process and product &#34;b.&#34;



M. MERRITT.

GALVAN PROCESS AND PRODUCT 8.

Y 4 0N FILED Nov. 2, 1911. 1,282,267., Patented Oct. 22,1918.l

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55. application Seri MATTHEW M. MEIBIRITT, OF SOUTH MIDDLETON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO COPPER PRODUCTS COMPANY, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

GALVANOPLSTIC PROCESS AND PRODUCT BJ meneer.

Application led November 2, 1917. 'Serial No. 199,811.

To all 'whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, MArrmw M. Mnnm'rr, a citizen of the United. States, and a resident of South Middleton, county of Essex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Galvanoplastic Processes and Products B, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention pertains to improvements in galvanoplastic processes and products, but more particularly, though not exclusively, to the manufacture of articles such as manifolds for internal combustion engines such as aeroplane engines. y

In the drawings, which`show one form of an illustrative embodiment of my invention:

Figure l shows a manifold;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic section therethrough on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Great difficulty has been experienced in constructing manifolds for aeroplane' engines of the requisite light weight which are strong enough to withstand the constant and excessive vibrations occasioned by the operation of the engine. Such manifolds 'are very vlikely to develop` cracks, particularly adjacent the bent portions thereof. It has heretofore been attempted to manufacture such manifolds by the lelectrolytic deposit of copper on cathodes of metal fusible at a low temperature, and on cathodes of wax painted with graphite or other electrically conductive material, the core being melted out after the electrolytic deposit.' Manifolds made by the usual methods, ,above-described, have proved unsatisfactory because of brittleness and coarseness of texture of the deposited metal, this brittleness being accentuated at points adjacent curved portions of the deposit.

I have found that the deposits made as before described are rendered more uniform in quality by intermittent immersion of the cathode, as by attaching the same to a revolvin wheel partially immersed in the electro yte so that the entire cathode or a. considerable portion thereof, preferably at least one-half, is `only intermittently immersed in the electrolyte. This aspect of my invention is not claimed herein being comprised in the sub'ect matter of a copending al No. 247,966, filed August 2, 1918. While intermittent immersion improves the texture of the deposited metal, electrolytic deposits 'made on metallic cathodes having low melting points are, as heretofore made, likely to be rough and brittle. I believe this to be due to the tendency of certain ingredients of the fusible metal, which is usually an alloy of lead,

to be attacked by the electrolyte, and in some instances to be disassociated into negative ions traveling from the cathode to the anode.

Where, on the other hand, the cathode is formed of non-conductive material removable by fusion, by a solvent, or otherwise, and the surface of which is coated with an electrically conductive paint, such as graphite, bronze powder and the like, the deposited copper, as heretofore practised, has been brittle. and of slight tensile stren h. As stated in my co-pending application, led herewith, I believe this to be due to the comparatively coarse texture of the conductive coating which is necessarily full of interstices as com ared with cast, rolled, or electrolytically eposited metal. The unevenness of attraction exerted by this surfacing of the cathode results in combining the deposited metal in relatively coarse crystalline formation, which renders it brittle and of slight tensile strength.

I have found that the deleterious effects of a cathode composed of metal having a low fusing-point may be minimized by coating the metal with a ilm of a foreign. substance such as grease,

trolytically deposited subsequent to the ap plication of the grease and the surface of this metal be coated with grease, that subsequent electrolytic deposits on the greased lsurface will be of fine texture and of great tensile strength, the brittleness being greatly reduced, if not eliminated. If desired, the structure may be laminated by the occasional interruption of electrolytic deposit and the application to the surface of the deposited metal of films of grease.

Where it is necessary or'desirable to utilize a non-metallic cathode such as wax or any electrically non-conductive material removable by a solvent or otherwise, the same being coated with a paint of electrolytically conductive material, I have found it of great advantage to coat the surface of the Patented Oct. 22, MMS.

and that if a layer of copper, preferably relatively thin, be elec-` electricallyconductive material or paint with a thin lilm of grease, to deposit a relatively thin sheet of copper or other metal on surface on which vthe metal is to be deposited.

After electro-deposition the core of the cathode may be removed by fusion, by burning, bythe use of a solvent or any other suitable method.

T have utilized the word galvan'oplastic 9 in its broader sense to include any electrolytic processes in which the entire .cathode or any portion thereof is removed subl sequent to electro-deposition.

' Tt is obvious that the cathode may, it desired, be exterior Vto the surface thereof on. which metal is to be deposited and that for some purposes my invention may beuseiul in connection with galvanoplastic' processes in which the cathode can be withdrawn without change in the structure thereof.,

While T have shown andfdescribed one embodiment of my invention and one method of practising the same, it will he understood that major changes may 'he resaca? made, both in the product and the method of producing the same, without departingv from -the scope of my invention, which is best dened in the following claims.

Claims:

L manifold' comprising a tubular portion formed'of a plurality of layers of electrolytically deposited metal with a lm of grease interposed between said layers.

2. A manifold comprising a tubular por:

' tion formed of a plurality of layers of electrolytically de osited metal with non-conductive materlal interposed between said layers.,

3. A manifold Vcomprising a tubular por-1 tion formed of a plurality oi? layers of electrolytically deposited metal with lubricating materlal interposed between said layers.

t hollow article having a shell formed of a plurality of layers of electrolytically deposited metal with grease interposed between said layers.

5. A hollow article having a shell formed of plurality of layers of electrolytically deposited metal with non-conductive material' interposed between said layers.

5., A hollow article having a shell formed of a plurality of layers of eleetrolytically deposited metal with lubrieatingF material interposed between'said layers.

in. testimony whereof, T have signed my name to this speeication.

MATTHEW MERRTTT 

